Inter Thread [09-10]

[Xifio]

the best thing would be a fully-fit Júlio César available; the worst thing would be that he is not fully fit, gets the start anyway, and gifts the Chels an away goal via a gaffe ... I trust José will be aware of that, and make his decision wisely ...

oh dear ... júlio césar made a few good saves from long-range efforts, but he's certainly culpable on that very charitable goal ...

 

[Recrero152]

Honestly, I might just be blind or deranged about this one but about that penalty situation with Kalou, I could promise on that it truly looked like he was faking the hit, it didn't look like a penalty to me at all. I think it was a good win and as long as we do well at Stanford Bridge, we got this wrapped up but it will be very hard.

 

[Xifio]

there was definitely contact, minimal as it may have been, but Kalou made a meal of it by trying to sell it to the ref with theatrics ...

Júlio César essentially gifted Chelsea the away goal, but made a key save from Lampard, so his fortunes in this match were a little mixed ... that away goal is still crucial ...

I gave my thoughts on the first half, so I'll briefly discuss the second ... it was certainly a better showing, and in periods, Inter had possession and dictated the pace of the game ... Javier Zanetti had a lot to do with that, as he kept things calm and collected ... but while those periods did come, it was mostly it was staunch rearguard action, which is not at all impressive, though it was important ... Lucio shackling Drogba (as best he could) made a huge difference ... and when Balotelli came on, he and Maicon were combining extremely well to keep the ball, and advance down the field ... Super Mario does have bags of skill, and even had a chance to school Malouda one or two times during his cameo appearance ... he will be useful in the second leg too ...

it is still a very open tie, but Mourinho would have learnt a lot from this first leg, as would his players ... with a goal advantage going to the Bridge, José will be cautiously confident about his side doing what is needed in London ...

 

[Recrero152]

We have done it! Forza inter!!!

 

[Costacurta]

whoaa .. ! who would've thought .. after all these years .. Inter finally made it through the quarter finals .. congrats !.

and now you get to keep Mourinho too , cause if you would've failed to qualify it would've been bye-bye 'Special One' .

 

[Xifio]

whoaa .. ! who would've thought .. after all these years .. Inter finally made it through the quarter finals .. congrats !.

and now you get to keep Mourinho too , cause if you would've failed to qualify it would've been bye-bye 'Special One' .

well it is thanks to José that they have made it through to the quarters for the first time since 2003 ... the comparison statements about not being better than Mancio can stop ...

still, I don't know about Mourinho staying or leaving at the end of the season, but this is a terrific victory, which will be savoured ... very happy for him and this Inter side ...

 

[MaestroZidane]

He will Leave... and the reason that will be given is the same one that was being used today.."Inter Board - because He failed to win the CL, We have decided to part ways with Jose Mourinho.." Although, deep down, Mourinho is ready to leave and seek his next challenge

 

[Pizarro14]

Congrats Inter, can someone give me player ratings? I didn't get to see the match.

 

[Xifio]

Congrats Inter, can someone give me player ratings? I didn't get to see the match.

I'd recommend catching some extended highlights ... it would be worth it ...

the pressure of the match could be felt in the first half ... Chelsea ended the half on top ... the half-time whistle came at the right time for Inter, and broke Chelsea's momentum ... Inter grew and grew as the second half progressed ... Drogba was shackled by Samuel and Lucio (like the 1st leg), Sneijder's passing was incredible, and both Milito and Pandev spurned glorious one-on-ones ... Eto'o then got his turn in the 78th minute, and he buried it; 1-0, and Inter had one foot in the quarters ... it could, and probably should, have been more than one goal by then; regardless, you could sense that the tie was over at that point ... Eto'o got another chance to score, but went on his own instead of passing it to Deki Stanković, who was in a better position ... it ended 1-0, and Inter had completed a historic victory in London ...

Mourinho's tactics of starting with an aggressive 4-2-1-3 formation worked well (and, as I said, would/should have worked better if the chances had been converted) ... he certainly out-thought Ancelotti in this one, and left Stamford Bridge as the Special One once more ... and Sneijder showed why he was the missing piece for Inter ...

 

[Pizarro14]

I'd recommend catching some extended highlights ... it would be worth it ...

the pressure of the match could be felt in the first half ... Chelsea ended the half on top ... the half-time whistle came at the right time for Inter, and broke Chelsea's momentum ... Inter grew and grew as the second half progressed ... Drogba was shackled by Samuel and Lucio (like the 1st leg), Sneijder's passing was incredible, and both Milito and Pandev spurned glorious one-on-ones ... Eto'o then got his turn in the 78th minute, and he buried it; 1-0, and Inter had one foot in the quarters ... it could, and probably should, have been more than one goal by then; regardless, you could sense that the tie was over at that point ... Eto'o got another chance to score, but went on his own instead of passing it to Deki Stanković, who was in a better position ... it ended 1-0, and Inter had completed a historic victory in London ...

Mourinho's tactics of starting with an aggressive 4-2-1-3 formation worked well (and, as I said, would/should have worked better if the chances had been converted) ... he certainly out-thought Ancelotti in this one, and left Stamford Bridge as the Special One once more ... and Sneijder showed why he was the missing piece for Inter ...

Will do now after that amazing post. Rep.

 

[Arnau]

Awesome, i wouldn't expected that before the first leg because Inter looked so weak against us but yesterday and in Giuseppe Meazza were always better than Chelsea.

 

[Xifio]

Awesome, i wouldn't expected that before the first leg because Inter looked so weak against us but yesterday and in Giuseppe Meazza were always better than Chelsea.

they had yet to gel as a unit, with the new signings taking time to adjust to each other ... that has happened since then, and you can see the difference ... they came to play with purpose, and they did just that; great to see ...

I still think that Thiago Motta is a weak link, and it may yet cost them ... Muntari has sadly been woeful, giving the ball away almost every time ... Deki is too slow for Europe ... Mariga is a better option than Motta, but Mourinho does not like to risk inexperience ... Chivu can't come back soon enough, because that would allow Pupi Zanetti to push back into the midfield role that he played in more often than not under Mourinho ...

Lucio will miss the 1st leg of the quarters ... and depending on how Friday's draw goes, that may prove crucial ...

 

[Jaboldinho]

Motta will miss the first leg too.

 

[Xifio]

^ yup, you're right ... Lucio will be the big miss ... Motta's absence is a blessing for Inter, no disguise ...

 

[kp41]

and why he had to mention that after the victory?

 

[kp41]

Well, if Dinho and co don't blow their chance, the especial one may use that contract clause.

 

[Xifio]

Well, if Dinho and co don't blow their chance, the especial one may use that contract clause.

unless he wins the Champions League, I think it is likely that Mourinho will leave Italy at the end of the season ...

as for today's result: if Inter had been knocked out of Europe, then press would be having a field day right now ... but that is not the case, so attitude and fortitude is key at the moment; José will be aware ...

Milan aren't guaranteed to go top tomorrow by any means ... they play a dangerous Napoli side who are in the hunt for European places, and are capable of beating anyone on their day ... Milan got trounced by Man Yoo and were very lucky against Chievo, so they won't exactly be brimming with confidence ... I wouldn't count out the Neapolitans from getting a point, and maybe even grab all 3 at the San Siro ...

Inter's story is different ... they were all over Palermo at the start of the match, and they were deservedly up 1-0 ... Cesare Bovo was very lucky not to be sent off within 15 minutes, but Inter were so in control it didn't look like it would matter ... but, they let Palermo back into the match, and then failed to hit the target often enough at the other end -- several shots from just outside the box ended up in Row F ...

Palermo mounted a staunch rearguard action, and they can be proud of that ... Simon Kjær is one of the best young defenders on the planet, and he proved his worth on almost every occasion (though he was not flawless) ... Palermo nearly stole all 3 points when they hit Inter on the counter, but Cavani was more selfish than he should have been (he's talented but he's still maturing), while Miccoli couldn't find a killer pass ...

Mourinho will not be happy with his troops on the domestic front, especially when they started so brightly ... but they have enough quality to keep the title race alive till the end, even if they don't play to full potential ...

with progress made on the European front (not to mention an historic win in London), the fans will definitely show patience with the team ... and at this crucial juncture in the season, that will be worth a lot to keeping the peace around the team, and allowing them to focus on rediscovering their midas touch at home ...

 

[kp41]

they (Milan) blow it big time whenever they have a chance, you know!!!!

Forza Dinho!!!!

 

[kp41]

they (Milan) blow it big time whenever they have a chance, you know!!!!

Forza Dinho!!!!

Here we go, Inter's still on top.

 

[Xifio]

they (Milan) blow it big time whenever they have a chance, you know!!!!

Forza Dinho!!!!

Here we go, Inter's still on top.

they didn't "blow it" ... a draw with some basement dweller when you have a chance to go top would have been "blowing it" ... a draw with Napoli, as I already made clear in my previous post, would not have been and is not a surprise ... Milan have done well to even get to this point and keep the title race close ...

EDIT: and comments such as "Forza Dinho" are better reserved for the Milan thread ...